Gallagher Specialty's Lion: Why insurance needs to sell itself better to the next generation

By George Abbott

Feb 13 - (The Insurer) - In the latest episode of Young Meteors, Dominic Lion, executive director of Global Complex Risks at Gallagher Specialty, takes us through his unexpected journey into the insurance industry and why his wife suspects his job consists mostly of long lunches and rounds of golf.

Like most of the industry, Lion didn’t set out to work in insurance. After graduating from Southampton University, he found himself at a crossroads, scrolling through The Times' Top 100 Employers list in search of direction.

“I had no idea what to do next,” he admits. “I found Santander, Heineken, and Zurich. I thought, ‘A nice Swiss brand sounds safe, sounds secure.’”

He landed a spot on Zurich’s graduate scheme and cut his teeth in motor claims, experiencing firsthand the crucial role of insurance at what he calls “the coalface".

“Spending six months in Leeds answering calls and dealing with smashed windscreens gave me a fundamental appreciation of why we write insurance,” he said. “I think there's a huge temptation, particularly with people on my side of the industry who are at the front end, to not remember the reason that we do what we do, i.e., putting people's lives back together when they fall apart.”

After his stint at Zurich, Lion made the leap to Gallagher, where he has spent the last decade. Now, as the head of Global Complex Risks, he leads a multinational property and casualty team that services manufacturing, infrastructure, hospitality, leisure and retail – anything that doesn’t neatly fit into Gallagher Specialty’s existing verticals.

One of Lion’s favorite aspects of the industry is the social element – networking, understanding client needs and building long-term relationships.

“I love getting to know people, getting under their skin,” he said. “Understanding what it is they're really after and then trying to deliver it.”

His enthusiasm for client engagement has led to some playful teasing at home.

“My wife thinks I’m a professional golfer and luncher,” he laughed.

Fixing insurance’s image problem

As with many Young Meteors before him, Lion believes the industry needs to do a better job of promoting itself to young talent.

“I think we’re awful at self-promotion and branding,” he says. “Most people only know insurance through their car or home policies, where they probably do not have the best experience. But when you get inside the industry, you realize it’s an amazing place to be. At its core, insurance underpins the growth of society, and I love that.”

Watch the full Young Meteors episode with Dominic Lion to hear more about his journey, his take on industry recruitment and why he still doesn’t quite see himself as a "professional luncher".

Don't miss the previous episode featuring Probitas 1492's Tara Allen.